7 Days of DIY Braids, Modeled by Glamour Editors

Two talented hairstylists at Bumble and Bumble showed seven different Glamour editors (including yours truly!) how to get their favorite celebrity braid in just a few easy steps. Here’s the how-to for each gorgeous ‘do—now you’ve got a new hairstyle idea to try every day this week!

Day 1: an Elegant Crown Braid

DIY Braid Step 1 of 6: Prep hair with product for texture.

Your hair should have a slightly rough, thick texture to start. Bumble and Bumble stylist Allen Wood hand-dried Lauren’s hair with Surf Spray and then White Hair Powder to give it a roughed-up texture with lots of grip.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 6: Back-comb hair for volume.

Create an exaggerated side part, then back-comb crown for a bit of added volume.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 6: Braid front section.

Isolate a large section of hair on the thick side of the part and braid into a traditional three-strand braid all the way down to the ends. Use a clear or matching elastic to secure. Use fingers to gently pull braid apart so it’s wider. Rub braid with palm of hand to create a little bit of fuzziness.

DIY Braid Step 4 of 6: Pull rest of hair into a low ponytail.

Pull hair into a ponytail by the nape of the neck, securing with a bungee hair-tie. Keep ponytail slightly loose to preserve volume. Back-comb length of ponytail for added fullness.

DIY Braid Step 5 of 6: Pin ponytail into a chignon.

Wrap ponytail into a chignon, securing with hairpins. Push the feet of the hairpin up through the edge of the bun and then jackknife the hairpin back down, toward the center of the bun, to anchor securely.

DIY Braid Step 6 of 6: Tuck braid into the chignon.

Tuck the tail of the braid into the chignon, securing with a bobby pin. Fine-tune hair with fingers and use hairspray all over hair to set. Wood used Bumble and Bumble Does It All Styling Spray on Lauren’s hair.

The Final DIY Braid Look

Lauren says: “I’m in love! I’d totally try this braid on a weekend when I could leave it in all day and wear it out at night.”

Day 2: a Laid-Back Side Braid

DIY Braid Step 1 of 6: Prep hair with product for texture.

To start, your hair should have a soft wave with a little bit of grip. For Grace, who has thick hair and natural waves, Bumble and Bumble stylist Britney Williams applied Grooming Cream throughout and back-combed hair, from the crown to the nape of the neck, for added volume.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 6: Part, tuck, and pull hair to one side.

Create a side part and tuck hair behind ears, leaving out any shorter layers you may have in the front. Pull hair to the opposite side of the part, by your shoulder.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 6: Braid hair, starting below your ear.

Braid hair into a traditional three-strand braid, starting below your ear. When shorter pieces start falling out of braid, secure with a hair-tie. If the tail of your braid is very long, braid it into another three-strand braid and back-comb the tip to secure.

DIY Braid Step 4 of 6: Use bobby pins to secure.

Use bobby pins to secure any too-loose sections. Add a few at the nape of the neck, pushing them upward, to create a little bit of extra volume in the back.

DIY Braid Step 5 of 6: Use hands to make braid wider.

Use hands to pull each loop of the braid apart slightly, so it looks fuller.

DIY Braid Step 6 of 6: Style front pieces.

Blow-dry front pieces back with a round brush so they stay off the face. Finish with hairspray. Williams used Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode on Grace’s hair.

The Final DIY Braid Look

Grace says, “I don’t usually ‘do’ my hair, but this
style is something I could easily whip up before work or a night out.”

Day 3: a Romantic Fishtail Braid

Our beauty assistant, Carrie Henderson, has seen (and tried) it all. To challenge herself, she zeroed in on Leona Lewis’ super-romantic French braid-fishtail braid hybrid—a great look for date night that also works in the office.

Photo: Getty Images

DIY Braid Step 1 of 4: Back-comb hair for volume.

Hair should have volume and a little bit of grip to start. To achieve this texture in Carrie’s fine, straight hair, Bumble and Bumble stylist Britney Williams back-combed hair around the nape of the neck and side of the head for volume.

Grab a large section of hair, on the low end of the part, behind the ear. Start French-braiding the hair, keeping the elevation low as you move around the back of the head. If you run out of hair in the nape area, start feeding it in from the top.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 4: Fishtail-braid remaining hair.

When you are on the other side of the head, add a strand from the front section of the hair and create a fishtail braid using the now-four braid strands. Stop and secure with a hair-tie when hair starts to fall out of braid.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 4: French-braid hair on either side of part.

Create a deep side part that’s not too perfect. French-braid each side back, toward the lower center of the head (just above the nape of the neck) and then out, all the way to the ends. Use a clear or matching elastic to secure.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 4: Loosen up braids with fingers.

Use fingers to gently loosen up hair around the crown and hairline to soften the effect. Rub braids with palm of hand to create a little bit of fuzziness.

DIY Braid Step 4 of 4: Secure braids in the back with bobby pins.

Secure loose braid ends in the back of the head with bobby pins. Rope and tuck the ends around one another to hide elastic hair-ties. Finish with hairspray. Wood used Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode on my hair.

The Final DIY Braid Look

“I felt elegant and a cool with this hairstyle, and the braid looked better and better as the day went on. Bonus: My husband loved it!”

Day 5: a Glamorous Mini Braid Updo

Of Nicole Richie’s many braided hairstyles, fashion development director Susan Cernek found this mini crown braid look to be the ideal complement to her features and hair length.

Photo: Getty Images

DIY Braid Step 1 of 4: Prep hair with product for texture.

Your hair should be wavy to start. Bumble and Bumble stylist Britney Williams used Tonic Lotion and Grooming Creme, a water-based product, to bring out Susan’s natural waves. Twisting and scrunching hair during a quick blow-dry also encouraged waves to form.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 4: Braid two front sections.

Create two large sections from the hairline to just behind the ear on both sides. Begin a traditional, three-strand braid on one side, leaving out a 1-inch section of hair in the very front. Braid straight out from ear so that the braid can be pulled up. Secure with elastic and repeat on the other side.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 4: Use bobby pins to secure.

Wrap one braid over the crown and pin behind the ear. Wrap the other braid over the crown, in front of the first braid, then pin behind the ear. If your hair is long, tuck the tails of each braid under the braids on the crown, securing with bobby pins. Use hairpins to pin the two braids together so they don’t separate. Rub braid with palm of hand to create a little bit of fuzziness.

Back-comb the crown for added volume. Blow-dry front pieces back with a round brush so they stay off the face. Finish with hairspray. Williams used Bumble and Bumble Does It All spray on Susan’s hair.

The Final DIY Braid Look

Susan says: “I was surprised how quickly it came together and how easy it would be to re-create! Afterward, I realized what a perfect summer hairstyle it is, as it looks better when frizzy and slightly unkempt. Ideal for sticky, humid days.”

Day 6: a Cool and Ethereal Braided Bun

Glamour photo manager Jenifer Gobie loved Nicole Richie’s ethereal mini braided bun (I told you Richie was into braids!). “It is so beautifully intricate, and the detail along the sides going to the back is just stunning.” said Jen.

DIY Braid Step 1 of 5: Prep hair with product for texture.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 5: Part and secure hair into a low ponytail.

Part hair in the middle. Section out a radial, or “headband,” section from ear to ear and isolate. Secure the back half in a low ponytail.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 5: Braid front sections.

Take each side section and split in half horizontally. Braid each section (four in all) into a traditional three-strand braid all the way to the end. Using your fingers, gently loosen the loops of the braids to give them texture and width.

DIY Braid Step 4 of 5: Rope braid ponytail and coil up into a bun.

Separate ponytail into two equal sections. Twist each section to the right. Cross the twisted right section over the left section. Cross the new right section over the left section. Keep braiding until you reach the end and secure with a hair elastic. Coil the finished rope braid up into a chignon and secure with hairpins.

DIY Braid Step 5 of 5: Wrap braids around the bun.

A more intricate (but still easy!) alternative to Richie’s hairstyle: Wrap each loose braid around and over the chignon, instead of hiding them underneath it. Secure braids with bobby pins. Tuck the ends of each braid into the bun to hide them. Finish with hairspray. Wood used Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Hairspray on Jen’s hair.

The Final DIY Braid Look

Jen says, “I loved this braid because it is so different from a hairstyle I would usually select for myself!”

Day 7: Glam Heidi Braids

Beauty editor Elaine Welteroth chose this Mary-Kate Olsen look as her “braidspiration” because she thought it to be an “elegant, relaxed take on the milkmaid braids trend.”

Photo: WireImage

DIY Braid Step 1 of 5: Prep and part hair.

Hair should have a thick, slightly roughed-up texture to start. Since Elaine’s hair is naturally very curly, Bumble and Bumble stylist Britney Williams used Defrizz styling lotion and straightened hair with a large round brush and hair-dryer. Once hair is prepped, create a center part from the hairline all the way down to the nape of the neck.

DIY Braid Step 2 of 5: Braid hair.

With each side, form basic three-strand braids toward the back of the head. Leave out a 1-inch section in the front, around the hairline.

DIY Braid Step 3 of 5: Use bobby pins to secure.

Wrap one braid over the crown and pin behind the ear. Wrap the other braid over the crown, behind the first braid, then pin behind the ear. Pin lower sections of the braid with large French hairpins for volume and to keep the braids secure.

DIY Braid Step 4 of 5: Loosen braid and create volume.

Pull braid back with hands and use fingers to loosen hair in the back for a softer, fuller look. Use fingers to loosen loops of braid as well. Add shine with hairspray. Williams used Bumble and Bumble Does It All spray on Elaine’s hair.

DIY Braid Step 5 of 5: Style front pieces.

Blow-dry front pieces back with a round brush so they stay off the face. If front pieces are long, use bobby pins to scoop and thread strands into braid to make them look less divided.

The Final DIY Braid Look

Elaine says: “I loved how it turned out. It was the perfect work-to-evening-event look. I wore it with a blazer at the office, then made it fancy with a blood-orange cocktail dress for an editors dinner at Frederic Fekkai’s home later that night. He approved!”